TrypanosomaInfection Rates inGlossinaSpecies in Mtito Andei Division, Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) transmitted cyclically by tsetse fly (Glossina spp.) is a major obstacle to livestock production in the tropical parts of Africa. The objective of this study was to determine the infection rates of trypanosomes in Glossina species in Mtito Andei Division, Makueni County, Kenya. Tsetse fly species, G. longipennis and G. pallidipes, were trapped and DNA was isolated from their dissected internal organs (proboscis, salivary glands, and midguts). The DNA was then subjected to a nested PCR assay using internal transcribed spacer primers and individual trypanosome species were identified following agarose gel electrophoresis. Out of the 117 flies trapped in the area 39 (33.3%) were teneral while 78 (67%) were nonteneral. G. pallidipes constituted the largest percentage of 58% while G. longipennis were 42%. The overall trypanosomes infection rate in all nonteneral Glossina spp. was 11.53% with G. longipennis recording the highest infection rate of 23.08% while G. pallidipes had an infection rate of 5.77%. T. vivax was the most infectious (10.26%) compared to T. congolense (1.28%). Mean apparent densities were strongly positively correlated with infection rates (r = 0.95) confirming the importance of this parameter as an indicator of AAT transmission risk.

Tsetse blood-meal sources, endosymbionts, and trypanosome infections provide insight into African trypanosomiasis transmission in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a wildlife-human-livestock interface

“…This finding corroborates previous studies in which these two savannah tsetse species were found to be predominant in the Maasai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem of Kenya and Tanzania [43–45]. As both species are competent vectors of human and animal trypanosomes [46,47], their presence highlights the persistent risk of AAT and HAT in the MMNR. Despite their lower abundance relative to G. pallidipes, G. swynnertoni had higher rates of infection with trypanosomes, underpinning its critical role in transmission of African trypanosomes as demonstrated by previous studies [48].…”

“…Moreover, T. vivax usually achieves higher parasitemia in hosts than do T. congolense and T. brucei , further increasing its chances of being transmitted to tsetse flies during blood-feeding on infected hosts [54]. Infection rates were similar for both female and male tsetse flies, as found in another recent study conducted in Mtito Andei, Kenya [47].…”

Evaluation of the relative roles of the Tabanidae and Glossinidae in the transmission of trypanosomosis in drug resistance hotspots in Mozambique

“…Since only one G. pallidipes specimen was captured, no accurate discussion can be presented on the infection rate of this species. However, in other studies, Trypanosoma infection were detected in G. pallidipes [31,98], which shows that they can actively harbor and transmit trypanosomes. The presence/absence of infection in tsetse flies can be due to feeding preferences [99], genetic differences, the availability of reservoirs, the parasitaemia of the vertebrate host [100,101] and the nutritional status of the flies [102,103].…”

“…The use of trapping to determine the distribution of hematophagous insects have been extensively described in the scientific literature [28][29][30][31][32][33]. Currently, a plethora of different traps are available for collecting hematophagous brachyceran flies.…”

Tripanossomas de ungulados no Brasil e na África: novas abordagens em estudos epidemiológicos de genótipos, vetores e reservatórios, e patologia de isolados Brasileiros.

“…Diferentes mamíferos domésticos e selvagens podem servir como hospedeiros e há um grande número de espécies e subespécies de moscas tsé-tsé envolvidas na transmissão destes parasitas. T. congolense é altamente prevalente em hospedeiros de importância econômica como ovinos, caprinos, bovinos e suínos (Adams et al, 2010b) assim como em moscas tsé-tsé (Nthiwa et al, 2015;Isaac et al, 2016).…”